US3602037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring minute deflections
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-07-09
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-07-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for measuring minute deflections comprising a straight rod of a flexible light-conducting material, such as a glass fiber having one of its ends and the adjacent end portion provided with a coat of a light-reflecting substance, such as silver, a source of light arranged to direct a collimated beam through a beam splitter into the opposite end of the rod coaxially therewith, a photomultiplier located to be impinged upon by the light beam reflected by the coated end portion of the rod and deflected by the beam splitter, and means measuring the output of the photomultiplier. When the coated end portion of the rod bends, as it does when exposed to a flowing fluid, or when in contact with a vibrating surface, absorption losses of the reflected beam increase within the coated end portion of the rod, the light received by the photomultiplier decreases and the output of the photomultiplier decreases in proportion to the degree to which the coated end of the rod is bent. The bend of the coated end of the rod in turn is proportionate to the speed of flow of the fluid or the amplitude of the vibrations to which the surface is subjected.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin D Neu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/28; G01H; G01H9/00; G01H9/004; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for measuring minute deflections comprising a straight flexible rod of light-transmitting material(s) having a light-reflecting coating on one of its end faces, a coating of a (reflection loss introducing) material having a higher index of refraction than said light-transmitting material provided on the end portion of said rod adjacent said coated end face thereof, means for directing a colimated beam of light through the opposite end of said rod into said rod coaxially therewith, and means for measuring variations in the light intensity of the beam reflected by the coated end face of said rod when said rod is bent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for measuring minute deflections comprising a straight flexible rod of light-transmitting material(s) having a light-reflecting coating on one of its end faces, a coating of a (reflection loss introducing) material having a higher index of refraction than said light-transmitting material provided on the end portion of said rod adjacent said coated end face thereof, means for directing a colimated beam of light through the opposite end of said rod into said rod coaxially therewith, and means for measuring variations in the light intensity of the beam reflected by the coated end face of said rod when said rod is bent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rod is a glass fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the coating on the end face of said rod and the coating on the adjacent end portion of said rod is a (light-reflecting) metal with a substantial but not total light-reflecting characteristic, such as silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rod is a light-transmitting fiber composed of a core of glass and a cladding of a glass having a lower index of refraction than the glass of said core, said cladding being removed from the end portion of said fiber adjacent the coated end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein different sectors of said end portion of said rod have coatings of different materials adapted to reflect different wavelengths, and including in the path of said reflected light beam means for dividing said reflected light beam into separate beam portions according to said different wavelengths, and separate light intensity measuring means for each of the reflected beam portions.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for measuring minute deflections and for indicating the direction of said deflections comprising a rod of a light-transmitting material having a light-reflecting coating on one of its end faces, coatings of different materials adapted to reflect different wavelengths on different sectors of the end portion of said rod adjacent said coated end face thereof, means for directing a beam of light into said rod through the opposite end thereof coaxially therewith, beam-splitting means interposed in the path of said light beam between said opposite end face of said rod and said light beam directing means for deflecting a portion of the light beam reflected by said coated end of said rod out of coaxiality with said rod, means in the path of said deflected light beam portion for dividing said reflected light beam portion into separate branch beams of wavelengths corresponding to the wavelengths reflected by said different coatings on the end portion of said rod, separate photomultiplier tubes with their cathodes exposed to said separate branch beams, and ammeters connected to the output sides of said photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for measuring minute deflections and for indicating the direction of said deflections comprising a rod of a light-transmitting material having a light-reflecting coating on one of its end faces, coatings of different materials adapted to reflect different wavelengths on different sectors of the end portion of said rod adjacent said coated end face thereof, means for directing a beam of light into said rod through the opposite end thereof coaxially therewith, beam-splitting means interposed in the path of said light beam between said opposite end face of said rod and said light beam directing means for deflecting a portion of the light beam reflected by said coated end of said rod out of coaxiality with said rod, means in the path of said deflected light beam portion for dividing said reflected light beam portion into separate branch beams of wavelengths corresponding to the wavelengths reflected by said different coatings on the end portion of said rod, separate photomultiplier tubes with their cathodes exposed to said separate branch beams, and ammeters connected to the output sides of said photomultiplier tubes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |